Women in finance eye entrepreneurship

New Delhi: Nearly two-thirds of women working in finance and accountancy in India now aspire to start their own businesses, reflecting rising confidence in using financial expertise as a pathway to entrepreneurship, according to a new survey.

Data released by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) shows that 64 per cent of women professionals in the sector want to launch their own ventures, up from 56 per cent last year. The increase signals growing confidence among women in leveraging their training in accountancy and finance to build independent businesses.

While entrepreneurial aspirations remain higher among men overall, the gender gap is gradually narrowing, indicating a shift in career ambitions and professional confidence among women in the field.

The trend is particularly strong among younger professionals. According to ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2026 data, women from Generation Z and Millennial cohorts show the strongest entrepreneurial ambitions, with about half indicating plans to start their own ventures in the future.

ACCA said the findings highlight a generational drive toward autonomy, impact and financial independence.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, noted that accountancy equips professionals with the tools needed to build successful enterprises, including financial expertise, governance, risk management, technology knowledge and strategic insight.